ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The two Yankees who left Wednesday’s game with injuries appear to have avoided the worst, though only one was back in the lineup on Friday.

Harrison Bader returned to start in center field against the Rays and crushed a three-run homer in the 5-4 loss at Tropicana Field, after taking a knee to the head/neck area in a scary collision with left fielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa on Wednesday.

But Oswald Peraza, who sustained a sprained ankle while trying to steal second base in that win over the Guardians, was not available off the bench Friday, though he avoided a trip to the injured list, at least for now.

Peraza was out on the field early on Friday afternoon playing catch and trying to move around.

“The swelling’s getting better,” manager Aaron Boone saidbefore the game. “So we’ll keep monitoring him day to day and see if we can up his work all weekend.”

Bader, meanwhile, passed all of his concussion-related testing and said he felt “very fortunate” to be back in the lineup, “because that could have been a lot different.”

Then, in his third game back from a strained oblique that cost him the first month of the season, Bader hit his first regular-season home run as a Yankee after clubbing five in nine playoff games last October.

“I’d rather have zero impact on the game whatsoever and come out with a win,” Bader said. “But working back, you really just focus on your rhythm and try to keep things very simple. I’m just happy to be on the field with my teammates and go out there and compete.”

Luis Severino (strained lat) threw three innings in a simulated game on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The session was closed to reporters, but Boone said Severino threw 40 pitches and he heard “everything went well.”

If Severino bounces back as expected, he will begin a rehab assignment next week (likely Wednesday or Thursday) with Double-A Somerset or Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Boone said.

Severino had initially been scheduled to start his rehab assignment this past Wednesday, but instead the team decided to push his throw day back two days and make it a simulated game.

“I think they just wanted one more controlled environment,” Boone said, giving the example of not wanting to have Severino get into a long inning in a rehab game. “He should be in line now to move forward.”

Aaron Judge (mild hip strain) threw from about 90 feet and did some running at the Yankees’ player development complex Friday morning.

Boone said Judge also hit inside, and likely will have the same work day on Saturday as the Yankees target a Tuesday return from the IL.

Josh Donaldson (hamstring strain) threw with Judge and finished his workout with what appeared to be some more intense running.

Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) will throw another bullpen session on Sunday or Monday before advancing to facing live hitters.